Engine-starting apparatus



1929- c. H. KINDL 1,724,136

ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 31, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l .KdgQlB, 1929. c. H. KINDL 1,724,136

ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 31, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 13, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL H. KINDL, OF ANDERSON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR, BY IESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO DELCO-REMY CORPORATION, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

ENGINE-STARTIN G APPARATUS:

Application filed December This invention relates to starting apparatus for internal-combustion engines, and moreparticularly to apparatus comprising an electric motor, a spirally-splined shaft driven by the motor, and a pinion which is threaded on the shaft and is moved endwise by a pedal into partial engagement with the gear of an engine to be started. The motor is operated to turn the threaded shaft in a direction which will cause the pinion to be moved into full engagement with the engine gear and against a stop. Then the pinion will turn with the shaft to drive the engine gear in order to crank the engine. After the engine becomes self-operative, the pinion will be demeshed automatically by reason of a screw-thread connection of the pinion with themotor.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide means for controlling the motor so that it will operate initially slowly in order to facilitate meshing with the gears manually and with low power suflicient to cause the motor to thread the pinion into full engagement with the engine gear, and finall so that the motor will operate with full power only after the pinion is in substantially full engagement with the engine gear. In this way, the liability of breakage of gear teeth or other parts of the starting apparatus is eliminated.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Figs. 1, 2, 3 and'4 are side views partly in section of a starting apparatus embodying the present inventionand showing the apparatus in three different positions of operation.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional View on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side View in the direction of the arrow 7 in Fig. 6.

In the drawings, 20 designates a field frame of an electric motor which is supported by a gear housing 21 which is adapted to be attached to the frame of an engine to be started, The housing 21 provides a bear- 31, 1925. Serial No. 78,584.

ing 22 for the armature shaft 23 of the motor, the other bearing being provided with an end frame. (not shown), secured to the other end of the motor frame 20. The shaft 23 supports an armature 24 and is provided w th a shouldered portion 25 and with a spirally-splined portion 26. A thrust collar 27 is secured to a shaft by pin 28 and bears against, a thrustwasher 29. This in turn bears against a finished surface 30 of the gea nhousing 21. A pinion 31 is threadedly connected with the splines 26 so as to move endwise along the shaft 23 and turn with the shaft after the pinion has been moved against the collar 27. In order to move the pinion endwise, there is provided a sleeve 32 having spaced flanges 33 defining an annular groove 34. The groove 34 receives the arms 35 of a bifurcatedpinion-shifting lever 36 having a yoke 37. The sleeve 32 is connected by flanged tubular members 38 and 39 joined 'by flan e 40 and fingers 41. Members 38 and 39 enc ose a spring 42 tending to separate the gear 31 from the sleeve 32, but separation is prevented by the flange 43 of member 42 engaging a ring 44 carried by the gear 31. Therefore, the spring 42 transmits motion toward the right from the sleeve 32 to the gear 31; and the members 44 39 and 38 transmit motion towardthe' left from said sleeve to said gear.

The mechanism for moving the sleeve 32, includes a pedal 45 connected by pedal ,rod 46 with a pedal lever 47 which carries a stud 48 providing a pivot for a latch 49 which is adapted to be received by a notch 50 in one arm 35 of lever 36. A spring 51 tends to maintain the latch 49 in this position, one end of spring 51 being received by a groove 52 in a stud 53 carried by lever 47, the other end bearing against an ear 54 of latch 49,

and the intermediate portion being coiled around stud 48.

Means for disconnecting the lever 47 from the lever 36 includes a rod 55 guided by a bearing 56 attached by a screw 57 to the motor housing 20. The rod 55 has a head 58 engageable with the ear 54 of latch 49, and a spring 59 located between the bearing 56 and the head 58 resists movement of the rod55 due to movement of the pedal 45 downwardly. The spring 59, therefore, tends to move latch 49 out of engagement with the lever 36, but the engaging surfaces of said latch and lever are constructed and arranged so that friction between said surfaces will resist separation of the latch and lever until the motor is operated to move the gear 31 into complete mesh with a gear of the engine to be started. When the gear 31 is moved endwise into mesh with the gear 60, due .to the operation of the motor independent of the pedal 45, this pressure will be relieved so that by the time that the motor gear 31 is in full engagement with the engine gear- 60, as shown in Fig. 3, the latch 49 will be entirely disengaged from the lever 36. This mechanism has been provided in order that the pinion may be demeshed automatically, regardless of failure of the operator to release the pedal 45.

By a controlling apparatus associated with the pedal lever 47 and with the pinionshifting lever 36, the motor is caused to turn slowly at first to facilitate meshing the pinion 31 with the gear 60, and to operate with low power suflicient only to cause the pinion to be threaded from the partly-meshed position in Fig. 2 to the fully-meshed position shown in Fig. 3. Then the controller is operated automatically when the pinion has moved into substantially fully-meshed position for causing the motor to operate with full power to crank the engine. After the engine becomes self-operative, the pinion is demeshed and is returned to the position shown in Fig. 1, although the pedal lever 47 may remain in the position shown in Fig. 3. A spring 61, having an intermediate portion coiled upon the rod 62 which supports the levers 47 and 36, and having its end portions bearing respectively against the housing 21 and against the lever yoke 37, causes the lever arms 35 to be urged in a clockwise direction so that the sleeve 32 will be maintained normally against the shoulder 25. After the pedal 45 is released, a spring 63 located between the pedal 45 and a cupshaped member 64 attached to the floorboard 65 of the vehicle causes the pedal 45 and lever 47 to return to the position shown in Fig. 1. During the return movement of the lever 47, the latch 49 moves over the hub of the lever arm 35 of the lever 36 and snaps into position within the notch 50, as shown in Figs. 1 and 7.

The apparatus for controlling the operation of the motor, comprises a-plurality of switches independently operated and housed within a switch case which is mounted upon the motor frame 20. The top wall of the switch case insulatingly supports a terminal bolt 71 connected with a plate providing contacts 72 and 73. The bolt 71 is connected by resistance element 74 with a switch contact 75 connected with the field winding 76 of the motor. As shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1, the field 76 is connected by a brush 77 with the armature windand 75, and a movable bridging contact 84 which is insulatingly supported and is slidable upon a rod 85 having a collar 86. Rod 85 is threadedly engaged by a rod 87 provided with a collar 88. A spring 89, bearing against the collar 86, normal-lyurges the contact 84 toward the collar 88.

The main switch by which the motor is initially connected with the current source through the resistance 74 comprises contacts 81 and 72 and; a movable bridging contact 90 insulatingly supported by a sleeve 91 and movable endwise therewith. Sleeve 91 nor mally bears at one end against the collar 86 on the rod 85 and the other end of the sleeve 91 is provided with .a nut 92 for re- I cuit'ing switch by moving contact 88 into en-' gagement with contacts 73 and 75, is controlled only in response to movement of the pinion 31. necting the rod 85 with the lever 36 by providing the rod 85 with a hook 98 and the lever 36 with a slot 99 for receiving the hook.'

The main switch contact is moved into engagement with contacts 81 and 72 in respon'se to the movement of the lever 47. This is accomplished by providing the lever 47 with a'pivotally-mounted block 100 having a hole for loosely receiving and guiding a rod 101 having an eye end 102 connected with the lever 93. A compression spring 103 is located between a flange 104 on the rod 101 and the block 100.

Downward movement of the pedal 45 causes the main switch to be closed by moving the contact 90 into engagement with the contacts 72 and 81. This causes the motor to operate slowly with relatively low power so as to facilitate engagement of the pinion .31 with the engine gear 60, as shown in Fig. 2. Now, although the operator may apply pressure continually to the pedal 45, this pressure will not cause the resistance shortcircuiting switchto be closed, but will simply assist meshing the pinion 31 while the motor is also operating to cause the pinion to be threaded into mesh.

Fig. 3 shows the condition of the apparatus when the main switch and the shortcircuiting switch are both closed and the motor operates with full torque to crank the This is accomplished by con-' .gear of. an engine to operator and, likewise, the condition of the resistance short-circuiting switch. Therefore, when the engine becomes self-operative,the pinion 31 will be moved endwise away from the gear 60 and the short-circuiting switch will be opened, although the operator continues to press down the pedal 45. The automatic movement of the pinion 31 to normal position is accompanied by a movement of rod 85, causing t e collar 88 to move the contact 84 away from contacts '73 and 7 5.

It is apparent, therefore, that the present starting apparatus removes from the direct control of the operator, the closing of a cir,- cuit which would cause the motor to operate with full power. Therefore, no matter how rapidly and forcibly the pedal 43 is depressed, the motor will not operate with full power until the ap aratus is in condition for full power to e applied, that is, not until the starter gears are substantially in mesh. The present apparatus removes from the control ofthe operator, the lowresistance circuit connection between the battery and the motor in addition to the demeshing of the gearing after the engine becomes self-operative. Therefore, the motor armature will not be rotated at an excessivel high speed, and the battery will not be discharged except at low rate in case the operator should fail to release theoperating handle or pedal.

Fi 4 shows thecondition of the apparatus i the pinion should be fully meshed with the engine gear and the engine should fail to become self-operative. The resistance short-circuiting contacts 73, 84 and 75 would remain enga ed, but release of the pedal lever 47 wou (1 permit separation of contact 90 from contacts 72 and 81. Thus, the battery could be disconnected from the apparatus, although the pinion 31 should be meshed with the engine gear 60 and the engine should fail to start and automatically demesh the pinion.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it isto be understood that other forms mi ht be adopted, all coming within the scopeo the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. Engine starting apparatuscomprising, in combination, a motor including-a frame, means for connectin themotor with the started and includ. mg. a. pinion movable into mesh with'the gear and driving connections whereby operation of the motor will complete the meshing of the pinion with the gear after meshing has been initiated and whereby the pinion will be automatically demeshed when the engine becomes. self-operative, a housing for the connecting means, manuallyoperated means for moving the pinion intopartial engagement with the gear, a motor control mounted upon the motor frame and actuated by said manually operable means for causing the motor to operate with low power to complete the meshing of the pinion with the gear, means for disconnecting the manual means from the pinion after the \pinion has been meshed, and a'second motor control mounted upon the motor frame and actuated automatically when the pinion has been substantially fully meshed with the ear for causing the motor to operate with igh power to crank the en me and rendered ineffective when the pinion is automatically demeshed, whereby the pinion will be demeshed and highower operation of the motor will cease ailer the engine be comes self-operative regardless of the status of the manually-operated means.

2. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, an electric motor including a frame, means for connecting the motor with the gear of an engine to be started and including a pinion and driving connections whereby operation of the motor will complete the meshing of the pinion with the gear after meshing has been initiated and whereby the pinion will be automatically demeshed hen the engine becomes self-operative, a ousing for the connecting means, manually-operated means for moving the pinion into partial engagement with the gear, a motor circuit having a switch mounted upon the motor frame and rendered operative by said manual means forv causing the motor to operate with low power to complete the meshing of the pinion with the gear, means for disconnecting the manua-l means from the pinion after the pinion has been meshed with the gear, and a motor circuit having a switch mounted upon the motor frame and rendered operative in responseto the low-power operation of the motor for causing the motor to operate with high power to crank the engine when the pinion is substantially fully meshed with the gear and rendered inoperative when the '-pin1on is automatically demeshed, whereby the pinion will be demeshed and high-power operation of the motor will cease after the engine becomes self-operative regardless of the status of the manually-operated means.

3. Engine. starting apparatus comprising, in combination, an electric motor including 'a frame, a spirally-splined shaft driven by the motor, a pinion on the shaft and driven through said splines and movable endwise into mesh with a gear of the engine to be the meshing by driving the splined shaft.

operated lever from the pinion 'means for automatically disconnecting the manual means from the pinion after the pinion has been meshed with the gear, and a motor circuit having a switch mounted upon the motor frame and renderedoperative when the pinion is substantially in full mesh with the gear for causing the motor to crank the engine and rendered inoperative when the pinion is automatically demeshed, whereby the pinion will be demeshed and high-power operation of the motor will cease after the engine becomes self-operative regardless of the status of the manually-operated means.

4. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, an electric motor, a spirallysplined shaft driven by the motor, a pinion on the shaft and driven through said splines, a pinion-shifting lever for moving thepinion endwise into mesh with a gear of the engine to be started, a pedal-operated lever, means normally connecting the levers, a circuit including a switch operated by the pedal lever for effecting low-power operation of the motor to complete the meshing of the pinion and gear, means for automatically disconnecting the pedal operated lever from the pinion shifting lever after the pinion has been meshed with the gear, and a circuit including a switch operated by the pinion shifting lever when the pinion is substantially in full mesh with the gear for causing the motor to crank the engine, said lastmentioned circuit being rendered inoperative when the pinion is automatically demeshed whereby the pinion will be demeshed and high-power operation of the motor will cease after the engine becomes self-operative regardless of the status of the manually-operated means. a

5; Engine starting apparatus comprising,

in combination, an electric motor, means for connecting the motor with the gear of an engine to be started and including a pinion and driving connections whereby o ration of the motor will complete the mes ing of the pinion with the ear after meshing has been initiated and w ereby the pinion will be automatically demeshed when the engine becomes self-operative, a pinion shifting lever for causing the pinion to move into mesh with the gear, a pedal operated lever, means normally connecting the levers, means for automatically disconnecting the pedal s ifting lever after the pinion has been meshed with the gear, a motor controller operated by the pedal member for causing the motor to opinmates crate to complete the meshing of the pinion with the gear, and a motor controller automatically actuated by the pinion shifting lever for causing the motor to operate with high power to crank the engine when the pinion is substantially fully meshed with the gear, said last-mentioned controller being rendered inoperative when the pinion is automatically demeshed whereby the pinion will be demeshed and high-power operation of the motor will cease after the engine becomes self-operative regardless of the status of the manually-operated means.

6. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, an electric motor including a frame, means for connecting the motor with the gear of an engine to be started and including a pinion and driving connections whereby operation of the motor will complete the meshing of the pinion with the gear after meshinghas been initiated and whereby the pinion will be automatically ,demeshed when the engine becomes self-operative, a housing for'the connecting means, manually-operated means for moving the pinion into partial engagement with the gear. a motor circuit having a switch provided with an endwise movable actuating rod operated upon by said manual means for causing the motor to operate with low power to complete the meshing of the pinion with the gear, means for disconnecting the manual means from the pinion after the pinion has been meshedwith the gear, and a motor,

circuit having a, switch provided with an endwise movable actuating rod concentric with the first mentioned switch rod and operated upon in response to the low-power operation of the motor for causing the mo- .tor to operate with high power to crank the engine when the pinion is substantially fully meshed with the gear and rendered inoperative when the pinion is automatically demeshed, whereby the pinion will be demeshed and high-power operation of the motor will cease after the engine becomes self-operative regardless of the status of the manually-operated means.

7. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, an electric motor, a spirallysplined shaft driven by the motor, a pinion on the shaft and driven through said splines, apinion-shifting lever for moving the pinion endwise into mesh with a gear of the engine to be started, a pedal-operated lever, means normally connecting the levers, a cir cuit includin a switch provided with an endwise mova le actuating rod operated by the pedal lever for effecting low-power operatlon of the motor to complete the meshing pf the pinion and gear, means for automatlcally isconnecting the pedal-o ated lever from the pinion shifting lover a er the pinion has been meshed with the gear, and a circuit including a switch having anendwise movable actuating rod concentric with the first mentioned switch actuating rod and operated by the pinion shifting lever when the pinion is substantially in full mesh with the gear for causing the motor to crank the engine, said last mentioned circuit being rendered inoperative when the pinion is automatically demeshed whereby the pinion Will be demeshed and high-power operation 10 of the motor will cease after the engine becomes self-operative regardless of the status of the manually-operated means.

In testimony whereof I hereto afiix my signature.

CARL H. KINDL. 

